20 islanders turn out to watch assisted dying film in Jersey

Around 20 islanders in Jersey turned out to watch a film about Assisted Dying at the Arts Centre last night.

'End of Life Choices' included interviews with those considering an assisted death, as well as lawyers, campaigners and religious leaders.

The aim of the piece was to create discussion about the legalisation of assisted dying in the island.

Earlier this week, the States of Jersey implemented the first mental capacity legislation of its kind on the island.

The Capacity and Self-Determination (Jersey) Law 2016 clarifies that all islanders aged 16 or over are assumed to have capacity to make decisions about their health, and that any decisions made on behalf of someone who lacks capacity are in accordance with that person's own values, beliefs and interests.

The law makes provisions for Advance Decisions, a legally-binding document which allows someone to record their wish to refuse treatment in certain situations, should they lose capacity in the future due to illness or injury.